EP3789099B1 - Withdrawal system with withdrawal aid and separation element - Google Patents

Description

technical field

The invention relates to a removal system with a removal aid for removing the separating element from a housing.

State of the art

Separating elements, such as fuel or oil filters, have to be replaced at regular intervals. For this purpose, the separating elements to be exchanged are to be removed from a housing in which they are arranged during use. In practice, for example in car workshops, standard tools such as screwdrivers or pliers are often used to remove the separating elements from the housing. These tools are used to attempt to pry and/or pull out the separating element from the housing. However, there is a risk that the separating element or the housing will be damaged, particularly in the area of a sealing surface for a housing cover that closes the housing. Fragments of the separating element can remain in the housing and lead to malfunctions. In addition, the tools used can easily slip off if used improperly, which can result in injuries.

From the WO 2012/027743 A2 a gravity filter with a handle is known.

In the DE 10 2013 020 502 A1 describes a filter element with coupling elements for coupling to a housing cover.

US 6,280,620 B1 describes a removal system with an oil filter and a socket wrench, radially projecting receiving openings being formed specifically for two corresponding extensions of the socket wrench on the oil filter. The oil filter can be rotated about a longitudinal axis by means of the socket wrench when the extensions are inserted into the receiving openings. A particular disadvantage of this configuration of the oil filter is that the receiving openings on the oil filter protrude radially have to be trained. As a result, the space requirement of the oil filter is disadvantageously increased. It is also not possible to pull the oil filter out of the housing in an axial direction using the socket wrench.

From the EP 1 817 093 B1 discloses a fuel filter element with an end plate and with a folding handle fixed to the element. However, in order not to excessively increase the installation space of the oil filter or to impede the flow through the oil filter, such a handle must be made very slim. This makes handling difficult and there is a risk that the handle will fail when removing the oil filter. Furthermore, the handle makes the oil filter more expensive since the handle is an integral part of the oil filter. A comparable withdrawal system is from the DE 11 2009 000 742 T5 known.

DE 44 15 890 A1 discloses another extraction system with a filter element having an end disk with a central opening. A removal aid with two locking fingers is used to remove the filter element from a housing. The removal aid is so small that it can only be reached with a finger. This makes it more difficult for a user to introduce force. Furthermore, the handle attached to the filter element can easily tilt, which increases the risk of injury.

It is therefore the object of the invention to provide a removal system with a separating element for separating impurities contained in a fluid and with a removal aid as well as a removal aid for such a system, which enable the separating element to be removed safely, quickly and conveniently from a housing without that the removal aid in the separating operation of the separating element increases the installation space of the separating element, influences the flow through the separating element or increases the manufacturing costs of the separating element.

The object relating to the extraction system is solved by an extraction system having the features of independent claim 1 .

Disclosure of Invention

In the removal system according to the invention, the removal aid is only connected (locked/snapped) to the separating element for removing the separating element from the housing. After the separating element has been removed, the separating element is typically disposed of together with the removal aid or separated from the separating element for reuse. The installation space of the separating element is thus not increased by the removal aid, since this is not arranged on the separating element when the separating element is in use. In its coupled or latched state with the separating element, the removal aid does not engage with its latching fingers in the central recess of the end disk of the separating element. Rather, the hook elements grip the end disk from behind in a direction radial to the longitudinal axis of the separating element outside of an end disk area directly delimiting the central recess in the radial direction outwards. The removal system according to the invention thus allows the separating element to be removed from a housing in an overall simplified and safer manner. By means of the removal aid, the separating element can be subjected to such a large torque that it can be loosened from its sealing seat in the housing in a simplified manner. Due to the fact that the removal aid is not an integral part of the separating element, the separating element can be made cheaper and more compact overall. The central recess of the end disk and also the end disk area adjoining the central recess can thus be designed solely with regard to a desired flow guidance of the fluid or a sealing of the end disk against adjacent housing parts. The separating element can be designed, for example, as a fuel or oil filter or as a water separator for water contained in fuel.

The separating medium typically encloses an interior space of the separating element in a radial direction. The central recess of the end disk opens up access to the interior space in the axial direction. The separating medium can be designed as a filter bellows folded in a star shape.

The grip section of the removal aid is preferably designed in such a way that it is gripped by at least two fingers, preferably four fingers, of the human hand can be. In particular, the handle section can have recessed grips for the fingers. The handle section is preferably arranged in the center of the removal aid in such a way that it spans the central recess of the end plate when the removal aid is latched onto the end plate. Alternatively, the handle section can also be designed in two parts, for example in such a way that two separate handle section sections cantilever radially outwards from the removal aid.

To latch the removal aid to the end plate, the latching fingers can preferably be elastically deformed in the radial direction. In other words, the locking fingers can be spread apart or pressed together relative to one another. When the removal aid has been pushed far enough onto the end plate, the locking fingers automatically spring back into their unloaded starting position and bring the hook elements into engagement with the end plate from behind.

According to an embodiment not covered by the present invention, the removal aid engages over the outer circumference of the end plate with its locking fingers when it is in the locked state with the end plate. The latching fingers thus extend radially outwards on an outer circumference of the end disk. As a result, the largest possible support width of the removal aid is set up on the end plate. This improves the stability of the coupling of the removal aid to the end plate and makes it easier to introduce torques into the separating element. The removal aid can be inserted into a gap between the end plate and the housing in order to remove the separating element. Typically, the latching fingers rest directly on the end disk radially on the outside. This further improves the stability of the coupling and creates lateral freedom of movement when removing the separating element.

A further development of this embodiment not according to the invention provides that the separating medium is designed as a star-shaped folded bellows which surrounds the longitudinal axis of the separating element in a ring shape, with the hook elements of the locking fingers extending radially into folds of the separating medium. A separating medium in the form of a star-shaped bellows can serve as a filter or as a coalescer medium. By folding a compact construction of the separating element large filter surface can be set up. The locking fingers are spaced apart from one another in such a way that they mesh with the folds when the removal aid is locked on the end plate. By engaging the hook elements in the folds, a torque can be introduced into the separating element and the separating element can thereby be released from its seat in a housing in a simplified manner. Furthermore, it is possible to reach behind the end disk with the hook elements radially inward, even if the end disk does not protrude circumferentially beyond the separating medium in the radial direction.

According to the invention, the hook elements can in particular be designed to engage in flow openings of the end disk, which are arranged offset outwards in the radial direction relative to the central recess of the end disk. The hook elements and/or the locking fingers can then also be supported in the circumferential direction on a respective wall of the flow openings, so that the separating element with the removal aid can also be rotated about a longitudinal axis. As a result, the separating element can be loosened more easily from its seat in the housing and can be pulled out of the housing with less effort in the axial direction (relative to the longitudinal axis of the separating element).

According to the invention, the end disk of the separating element has an annular gap and the latching fingers of the removal aid extend into the annular gap. The end disk preferably has an outer shoulder which radially outwardly delimits the annular gap, with the hook elements engaging behind the outer shoulder. By designing the end disk with an annular gap, the flow through the separating element and the sealing of the separating element against the housing can be improved. Such separating elements are difficult to remove from the housing with unsuitable tools. The removal aid uses the design of the end plate to enable particularly easy and safe coupling. The annular gap preferably has flow openings into which the locking fingers and/or hook elements of the removal aid engage when the removal aid is locked on the end disk.

According to the invention, the hook elements are each directed radially outwards. The removal aid can then be attached to the end disk in a simple manner if the end disk has a circumferential groove, a circumferential annular gap or other openings radially outside of the central recess. The hook elements of the removal aid then grip behind an outer shoulder of the end plate radially outward. The outer shoulder can be supported on the housing in a fluid-tight manner during use of the separating element.

An alternative embodiment in which the hook elements are each directed radially inwards is not claimed. This makes it possible to reach behind the end plate from radially outside. In the locked state, the locking fingers can then lie against an outer circumference of the end disk.

A particularly advantageous embodiment provides that the removal aid has at least two arms, with at least two, preferably at least five, latching fingers being formed on each of the arms. The locking fingers can then be made particularly slim. This makes it easier to attach and lock the removal aid to the end cap. At the same time, the stability of the removal aid is guaranteed. The latching fingers of an arm can in particular be arranged at a distance from one another in such a way that they mesh with folds of a separating medium which is arranged axially behind the end plate when the removal aid is latched onto the end plate.

In a further particularly preferred embodiment, it is provided that the removal aid has three locking fingers, in particular one locking finger being formed on a first end of a handle section of the removal aid, and two locking fingers being arranged on a second end of the handle section. This configuration further reduces the risk of the removal aid tipping or slipping both when the removal aid is latched to the end plate and when the separating element is pulled out of the housing. A distance between the two locking fingers at the second end of the grip section preferably corresponds to at least the width of one of these locking fingers. As a result, the support of the removal aid can be further improved. Furthermore, a web or the like of the end plate can be accommodated between the two latching fingers at the second end of the handle section. A torque about the longitudinal axis of the separating element can then be introduced into the separating element by rotating the removal aid.

The locking fingers are preferably on a circular path. The hook element of a locking finger or the hook elements of the locking fingers of an arm can each cover a segment angle of between 10° and 90° on this circular path. The swept segment angle is preferably at least 15°, particularly preferably at least 20°. The swept segment angle is preferably at most 40°, particularly preferably at most 30°.

At least some of the hook elements are particularly preferably designed with an insertion bevel and an extension, with the extension being arranged on the respective hook element facing away from a gripping section of the removal aid, and with each extension having a centering surface, the centering surface being essentially parallel or at an acute angle is aligned with the central axis of the removal aid. Typically, all hook elements are designed with an insertion bevel and an extension. The centering surface preferably borders on the insertion bevel. The acute angle is preferably at most 20°. In this way it can be achieved that the removal aid is centered relative to the end plate when it is placed on the end plate. This makes it easier to lock the removal aid in place on the end plate. Furthermore, the centering surfaces have a guiding effect, so that the risk of the removal aid slipping off the end plate during locking can be further reduced.

In an advantageous embodiment, it is provided that the removal aid has a, preferably tubular, centering piece, which can be inserted into the central recess of the end plate of the separating element. The centering sleeve is typically designed with an outside diameter that is slightly smaller, for example by at most 10%, than an inside diameter of the central recess of the end disk. The centering piece preferably protrudes in the axial direction beyond the hook elements or their extensions. The removal aid can be guided through the centering socket when attaching and locking the removal aid to the end plate. Furthermore, the engagement of the centering piece in the central recess can prevent the removal aid from laterally slipping off the end disk of the separating element to be removed from a housing when the separating element is removed from the housing.

The removal aid for a removal system with the features described above allows a separating element to be removed from a housing in a particularly simple, safe and time-consuming manner. The removal aid can consist in particular of a plastic or of a metallic material, with the removal aid preferably being designed as an injection molded part. A plastic removal aid can be manufactured particularly cheaply and is lightweight. A removal aid made of a metallic material can be designed to be particularly stable. According to the invention, a removal aid made of a metallic material can be manufactured using a 3D printing process. With a 3D printing process, even small numbers of removal aids can be produced economically.

Further advantages of the invention result from the description and the drawing. The features described above and detailed below can be used according to the invention individually or collectively in any combination.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig. 1a

eine schematische, perspektivische Ansicht eines Abscheideelements in einem Gehäuse und eine Ausführungsform einer nicht erfindungsgemäßen Entnahmehilfe;

Fig. 1b

eine schematische, perspektivische Ansicht der nicht erfindungsgemäßen Entnahmehilfe von Fig. 1a, verrastet an einer Endscheibe des Abscheideelements, während eines Entnahmevorgangs;

Fig. 1c

eine schematische Schnittdarstellung durch die nicht erfindungsgemäße Entnahmehilfe und das Abscheideelement von Fig. 1a, 1b;

Fig. 2a

eine schematische, perspektivische Darstellung einer ersten Ausführungsform einer Entnahmehilfe eines erfindungsgemäßen Entnahmesystems, verrastet an einer Endscheibe eines Abscheideelements;

Fig. 2b

eine schematische, perspektivische Ansicht der Entnahmehilfe von Fig. 2a;

Fig. 2c

eine schematische Aufsicht auf die Entnahmehilfe von Fig. 2a, 2b;

Fig. 3

einen schematischen Querschnitt durch eine zweite Ausführungsform einer Entnahmehilfe eines erfindungsgemäßen Entnahmesystems, wobei an Rastfingern der Entnahmehilfe jeweils ein Hakenelement und ein Fortsatz ausgebildet sind;

Fig. 4a

ein erfindungsgemäßes Entnahmesystem mit einer Entnahmehilfe in einer dritten Ausführungsform verrastet an einem Abscheideelement in einer schematischen, perspektivischen Ansicht;

Fig. 4b

eine schematische Aufsicht auf die Entnahmehilfe und das Abscheideelement von Fig. 4a;

Fig. 4c

einen schematischen Längsschnitt durch die Entnahmehilfe und das Abscheideelement von Fig. 4a, 4b.

Show in the drawing:

Fig. 1a

a schematic, perspective view of a separating element in a housing and an embodiment of a removal aid not according to the invention;

Fig. 1b

a schematic, perspective view of the removal aid not according to the invention Fig. 1a , latched to an end plate of the separating element, during a removal process;

1c

a schematic sectional view through the removal aid not according to the invention and the separating element Fig. 1a , 1b ;

Figure 2a

a schematic perspective view of a first embodiment of a removal aid of a removal system according to the invention, latched to an end plate of a separating element;

Figure 2b

a schematic, perspective view of the removal aid of Figure 2a ;

Figure 2c

a schematic supervision of the removal aid from Figures 2a, 2b ;

3

a schematic cross section through a second embodiment of a removal aid of a removal system according to the invention, wherein a hook element and an extension are formed on locking fingers of the removal aid;

Figure 4a

a removal system according to the invention with a removal aid in a third embodiment latched to a separating element in a schematic, perspective view;

Figure 4b

a schematic plan view of the removal aid and the separating element of Figure 4a ;

Figure 4c

a schematic longitudinal section through the removal aid and the separating element Figure 4a , 4b .

embodiment(s) of the invention

Fig. 1a shows a schematic, perspective view of a removal system 10 in an embodiment not according to the invention with a separating element 12 for separating impurities contained in a fluid, here oil, and a removal aid 14, by means of which the separating element 12 can be easily removed from a housing 16 . The separating element 12 is embodied as an oil filter, for example, and has a filter medium 18 and an end disk 20 arranged on the face side with a central recess 22 through which the fluid can be guided out of the separating element 12 . The central recess is directly delimited outwards in the radial direction by an end disk region or edge region of the end disk 20 designated 20a . The filter medium 18 is arranged in a ring shape relative to the longitudinal axis 24 of the separating element 12 and is held at one end embedded in the upper end disk 20 shown or glued to the end disk 20 . The fluid can flow through the filter medium 18 in a direction radial to the longitudinal axis 24 from the outside to the inside.

The removal aid 14 has a handle section 26 which can be provided with two recessed grips 28 for reasons of ergonomics. The handle section 26 can be gripped by several fingers (not shown) of a hand of a user of the removal aid 14 . The handle section 26 has an overall U-shaped form with two arms or legs 30 spaced apart from one another. The legs 30 are each attached to an intermediate plate 32 at one end. Five latching fingers 34 are formed here at both ends of the intermediate plate 32 and extend away from the intermediate plate 32 or the handle section 26 along a central axis 36 of the removal aid 14 . It goes without saying that more or fewer than five locking fingers can also be provided. The latching fingers 34 each have a terminally arranged hook element 38 which protrudes radially inwards from the respective latching finger 34 . The removal aid 14 has an axial stop 40 for the end plate of the separating element 12 to be removed from the housing 16 . The axial stop 40 points in the direction of the hook elements 38 and is formed, for example, by the locking fingers 34 . The removal aid 14 can have a preferably tubular centering piece 42 which can be inserted into the central recess 22 of the end plate 20 of the separating element 12 . The centering socket 42 is in the in Fig. 1a shown embodiment arranged on the intermediate plate 32 and extends away from the intermediate plate 32 coaxially to the central axis 36 of the removal aid 14 in the axial direction. The centering piece 42 can protrude with its free end 44 in the axial direction beyond the latching fingers 34 in order to enable reliable guidance of the removal aid 14 when it is coupled to the end plate 20 of the separating element 12 . According to an exemplary embodiment not shown in detail in the figures, the aforementioned axial stop 40 can also be formed by a collar or the like projecting from the centering socket 42 in the radial direction.

Fig. 1b shows the extraction system 10 from Fig. 1a during the removal process of the separating element 12 from the housing 16. The removal aid 14 is locked to the end plate 20 of the separating element 12. The latching fingers 34 overlap the end disk 20 on the outer circumference and engage behind the end disk 20 with their hook elements 38. The hook elements 38 can engage in folds 46 of the separating medium 18 in particular from the outside in the radial direction. In this case, the removal aid 14 is fixed by the separating medium 18 in a rotationally fixed or substantially rotationally fixed manner on the separating element 12, so that the separating element 12 can be loosened from its seat in the housing 16 in a simplified manner. In addition, the latching fingers 34 ensure that the removal aid 14 is latched on both sides at multiple points on the end plate 20 of the separating element 12 . In addition, the centering piece 42 extends into the separating element 12 via the central recess 22 of the end disk 20 . As a result, the removal aid 14 cannot tilt in relation to the end disk 20 , which prevents the locking fingers 34 from being unintentionally released from behind the end disk 20 . When the separating element 12 is removed from the housing 16, this reliably prevents the removal aid 14 locked with the end plate 20 from slipping off the separating element 12, which could cause injury.

1c shows the extraction system 10 from Fig. 1b in a longitudinal section with the removal aid 14 coupled to the separating element 12 during the removal process. The axial stop 40 and the hook elements 38 of the latching fingers 34 are spaced apart from one another in the axial direction in such a way that the removal aid 14 is arranged in a latched manner on the end plate 20 with axial play. It goes without saying that the axial stop 40 and the hook elements 38 can also be spaced apart from one another in such a way that the removal aid 14 can be latched to the end disk 20 without such axial play.

To latch the removal aid 14 to the end plate 20 of the separating element 12, the removal aid 14 is first pushed in the axial direction onto the separating element 12 arranged in the housing 16 until the end plate 20 of the separating element 12 strikes the axial stop 40 of the removal aid 14. The latching fingers 34 of the removal aid 14 are guided against the end plate 20 and are elastically deflected outwards in the radial direction by this relative to the central axis 36 of the removal aid 14 . As soon as the hook elements 38 have passed the end plate 20 in the axial direction, the locking fingers 34 automatically snap back into their locking position, in which the hook elements 38 engage the end plate 20 from behind. The separating element 12 is then pulled out of the housing 16 by means of the removal aid 14 held latched on the separating element 12 in the direction of the arrow 48 along the central axis 36 of the removal aid 14 or the longitudinal axis 24 of the separating element 12 . The removal aid 14 thus engages in its latched position with the end plate 20 of the separating element 12 state outside of a central recess 22 of the end disk in the radial direction outwardly directly delimiting the end disk region on the end disk 20 . In other words, the latching fingers 34 do not engage in the central recess 22 of the end disk 20 .

Figure 2a shows a first embodiment of a removal system 10 according to the invention. The separating element 12 is only partially shown for reasons of illustration and comprises a lattice-like base body 50 (= support tube), which is used to support an in Figure 2a non-illustrated separating medium, for example a filter medium or a coalescer medium, is used. An end disk 20 with a central recess 22 is integrally formed on the end face of the base body 50 . An annular gap 52 is formed on the end disk 20 outside of the central recess 22 in the radial direction. The annular gap 52 is peripherally delimited on the outside in the radial direction by an outer shoulder 54 of the end disk 20 . The outer shoulder 54 is insertable into a housing (not shown) in a fluid-tight manner. The outer shoulder 54 can be a in the Figure 2a wearing sealing element not shown in detail. Flow openings 56 are formed in the end disk 20 . The flow openings 56 are arranged at a distance from one another in the circumferential direction of the separating element 12 . The flow openings 56 open up flow paths for the fluid from the annular gap 52 into a radially outer environment (=untreated side) of the separating element 12 or the separating medium. As a result, during operation of the separating element 12, the fluid can first flow into the annular gap 52 and from there via the flow openings 56 radially along the outside of the separating element 12 in order to then flow through the separating medium (not shown) and the grid-like base body 50 in the radial direction from the outside to the inside and finally leaving the separating element 12 via the central recess 22 of the end disk 20 .

The removal aid 14 here comprises a grip section 26 with a total of three locking fingers 34. One of the locking fingers 34 is arranged at a first end 58 of the grip section 26. Two locking fingers 34 are arranged on a second end 60 of the grip section 26 opposite the first end 58 (see also Figures 2b-2c ). Each of the locking fingers 34 engages in a respective one of the flow openings 56 . On the locking fingers 34 trained hook elements (in Figure 2a hidden, see Figures 2b-2c ) engage behind the outer shoulder 54 of the end plate 20 in a radially outward direction. The removal aid 14 thus engages behind the end disk 20 in its latched state with the end disk 20 radially outside of the end disk region 20a directly adjacent to the central recess 22 . The locking arms 34 therefore do not extend into the central recess 22 of the end plate 20 .

Figure 2b shows a schematic perspective representation of the removal aid 14 Figure 2a . The latching finger 34 at the first end 58 of the grip section 26 is embodied symmetrically to the center plane 62 of the removal aid 14 . The other two locking fingers 34 are each arranged at a distance from the center plane 62 .

To latch the removal aid 14 to the end plate 20 of the separating element 12 (cf. Figure 2a ) the removal aid 14 is pressed against the end plate 20 with the locking fingers 34 first. Here, the latching fingers 34 are bent radially inward while resting against the end disk 20, so that the hook elements 38 can slide past the outer shoulder 54 of the end disk. As soon as the removal aid 14 has been slid far enough onto the end plate 20 , the latching fingers 34 spring outwards radially, so that the hook elements 38 engage the outer shoulder 54 from behind. The separating element can then be removed from the housing (cf. Figure 1a ) to be pulled.

Figure 2c shows a schematic plan view of the removal aid 14 according to FIG Figs. 2a, 2b . The locking finger 34 is arranged with its hook end element 38 symmetrically to the center plane 62 at the first end 58 of the grip section 26 .

At the second end 60 the locking fingers 34 and the respective hook elements 38 are arranged at a distance from the center plane 62 . The locking fingers 34 and the hook elements 38 are arranged on a circular arc 64 . A diameter 66 of the circular arc 64 is thereby limited to a shoulder diameter of the outer shoulder (cf. Figure 2a ) Voted. The latching fingers 34 and the respective hook elements 38 have the same widths 68. A spacing 70 is established between the latching fingers 34 and the respective hook elements 38. FIG. The spacing 70 is approximately 20% larger than the widths 68. A web (not shown) can be inserted between the locking fingers 34 between flow openings (cf. Figure 2a ) of the end plate of the separating element.

3 shows schematically a cross section through a removal aid 14 of a removal system according to the invention for removing a separating element from a housing (cf. Figures 1a , 1b ), which has a particularly simple structure. The removal aid 14 comprises a handle section 26 with two latching fingers 34 each with a hook element 38. The hook elements 38 each have a latching surface 72 facing the handle section 26. Facing away from the handle section 26 , an insertion bevel 74 is formed on each of the hook elements 38 . Beyond the hook element 38, each of the locking fingers 34 opens into an extension 76. The hook elements 38 point outwards. A centering surface 78 is formed on the extensions 76 on the side of the hook elements 38, ie on the outside. The centering surface 78 begins directly at the insertion bevel 74. The in 3 The removal aid 14 shown is locked with the end disk of the separating element radially outside of an end disk area adjacent to the central recess, as is the case, for example, in FIGS Figs. 2a, 2b is shown. According to an embodiment not shown in detail in the drawing, the hook elements 38 can protrude inward from the locking fingers in the radial direction, so that the removal aid in one of the Figs. 1a to 1c corresponding manner can be locked with the end plate of the separating element.

Figure 4a shows a further embodiment of a removal system 10 according to the invention. The removal aid 14 is here already latched to the removal of a separating element 12 from a housing 16 on the separating element 12. The separating element 12 has an end disk 20 with a single central recess 22 on the end face. The central recess 22 is delimited radially outwards directly by an edge region of the end disk 20, ie the end disk region 20a. The removal aid 14 engages in an annular gap 52 of the end disk 20 with latching fingers 34 .

The end plate 20 comprises an axial collar 80 with slots 82. The slots 82 can be arranged on the axial collar 80 in the circumferential direction of the end plate 20, in particular regularly spaced apart from one another. The removal aid 14 has projections 84 which are related to the central axis 36 of the removal aid 14, respectively extend radially outward from the locking fingers 34. The projections 84 engage in the slots 82 of the collar 80 when the removal aid 14 is in the latched state with the separating element 12 . As a result, the removal aid is coupled to the end disk 20 of the separating element 12 in a rotationally fixed manner. The separating element 12 can thus be rotated relative to the housing 16 by means of the removal aid 14 in order to loosen it from its (sealing) seat and thus be able to remove it more easily from the housing 16 .

Figure 4b shows a schematic plan view of the removal aid 14 and the separating element 12 according to FIG Figure 4a . The latching fingers 34 of the removal aid 14 engage in the annular gap 52 of the end disk 20 from above. The central recess 22 is formed concentrically with the annular gap 52 in the end disk 20 . The end disk area 20a delimits the central recess 22 radially on the outside. The end disk area 20a is arranged interposed in the radial direction of the central recess 22 and the annular gap.

Figure 4c shows a schematic longitudinal section along plane AA (cf. Figure 4b ) through the removal aid 14 and the separating element 12 of the removal system 10 of Figure 4a , 4b after the separating element 12 has been removed from a housing (cf. Figure 4a ). The separating element 12 comprises a separating medium 18 which is held on the end plate 20 at the front. The separating medium 18 is glued to the end disk 20 here. The central opening 22 of the end plate 20 opens up a fluidic access to an interior space 86 of the separating element 12. During operation of the separating element, a fluid can flow through the central opening 22 into the interior space 86 or out of the interior space 86. The central opening 22 therefore represents a flow opening for the fluid.

Radially outside of the end disk area 20a delimiting the central opening 22 , the removal aid 14 protrudes with its latching fingers 34 into the annular gap 52 of the end disk 20 . Hook elements 38, which are formed on the locking fingers 34 pointing radially outwards, engage behind the end plate 20.

The removal aids shown above are characterized by the central Recess of the end plate or of an end plate area immediately adjacent thereto, which is spaced apart in the radial direction, is characterized by an improved tilting stability. In addition, the separating element to be removed from the housing can be wobbled or rotated free of its seat within the housing and subsequently pulled out.

Claims (6)

1. Removal system (10), comprising:

   - a separating element (12) for separating impurities contained in a fluid, having a separating medium (18) and having an end disc (20) disposed on the front side of the separating element (12) and featuring a central recess (22), as well as

   - a removal aid (14) for removing the separating element (12) from a housing (16),

   wherein the removal aid (14) comprises a grip portion (26) and at least two latching fingers (34) spaced apart from each other which extend away from the grip portion (26) along a central axis (36) of the removal aid (14), and wherein
   a hook element (38) for engaging behind the end disc (20) of the separator element (12) is disposed radially outside an end disc region (20a) directly limiting the central recess (22) in the radially exterior direction on each latching finger (34), wherein the end disc (20) of the separating element (12) features an annular gap (52), and the latching fingers (34) of the removal aid (14) extend into the annular gap (52) in the snap-fitted state with the separating element (12), wherein the hook elements (38) of the removal aid (14) are each directed radially outwardly.
2. Removal system according to claim 1, characterized in that the hook elements (38) are designed to engage flow openings (56) of the end disc (20) of the separator element (12), which are disposed on the end disc (20) offset radially outwardly relative to the central recess (22) of the end disc (20).
3. Removal system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the end disc (20) features an exterior shoulder (54) that limits the annular gap (52) radially outwardly, and the hook elements (38) engage behind the exterior shoulder (54).
4. Removal system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the removal aid (14) features three latching fingers (34), in particular wherein one of the latching fingers (34) is allocated to one first end (58) of the grip portion (26) of the removal aid (14), and wherein the respective other two latching fingers (34) are allocated to a second end (60) of the grip portion (26).
5. Removal system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one part of the hook elements (38) is realized with an insertion bevel (74) and with an extension (76), wherein the extension (76) facing away from the grip portion (26) of the removal aid (14) is disposed on the respective hook element (38), and in that each extension (76) features a centering surface (78), wherein the centering surface (78) is substantially oriented parallel or under an acute angle with regard to the central axis (36) of the removal aid (14).
6. Removal system according to claim 1, characterized in that the removal aid (14) features a, preferably tubular, centering connector (42) which can be introduced into the central recess (22) of the end disc (20) of the separating element (12).

Images